Land Trust close to opening one of New Canaan’s ‘best kept secrets’

New Canaanites Penny Ross, left, Sara Rehnberg and Land Trust President Chris Schipper walk along a trail at the Symington Sanctuary property off Wellesley Drive. The Land Trust hopes to open the property to the public by June 21, the first day of summer. (Cristina Commendatore photo)

Nancy Watson Symington Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 45-acre parcel that the public can access from Wellesley Drive. (Cristina Commendatore photo)

A sign touting “Wildlife Sanctuary: New Canaan Land Conservation Trust” welcomes those who happen to come across it to what New Canaan Land Trust president Chris Schipper calls one of the town’s “best kept secrets.”

The property, known as the Nancy Watson Symington Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 45-acre parcel that the public can access from Wellesley Drive. Former resident Ann Hemingway Symington donated the property to the New Canaan Land Trust in 1995. And now the trust is focused on opening it for public enjoyment by the first day of summer.

New Canaanites Penny Ross, left, Sara Rehnberg and Land Trust President Chris Schipper look over the map of the Symington Sanctuary during a tour of the property last month. (Cristina Commendatore photo)

Last month, on a cloudy, cool afternoon, Schipper and residents Penny Ross and Sara Rehnberg walked along the property, which abuts Orchard Farm, a private residence. The trail, which loops in two areas, comprises some elevated pathways and wetlands.

“The neighborhood really will benefit having this as part of their park land,” Schipper said. “This is will be place people can relax.”

Schipper said the Land Trust hopes to open the property with a nature walk, led by Ross, on Friday, June 21. Ross, an avid naturalist, pointed out various plant and animal species along her tour of the property last month.

“There’s a mourning cloak butterfly,” Ross said, noting it was one of the first times this season she saw the species out.

“And this is haircap moss,” she explained, as she bent down and stroked the top of the plant.

Ross said she said is looking forward to leading nature walks, as she used to lead walks in Redding and was a guide at the Discovery Center in Ridgefield.

Rehnberg, who was out mainly to enjoy the day with Ross, said: “This is great. This is so open. I’m so excited about this. This has been kept a secret for so long.”

Schipper explained that before the property is officially open, some vines need to be cleared, as do some invasive plants and some of the trees that fell during Hurricane Sandy. However, Schipper wants to make sure the area doesn’t look too manicured.

“I don’t want to make it too tidy,” he said. “People will say they don’t like all the downed trees, but when this greens up, you won’t even notice this.”

The Land Trust, which recently opened the W. Pritchard Browne Wildlife Sanctuary on Valley Road, has a few more properties after this to open up to the public, Schipper said.

“But it takes time,” he explained. “It takes a village to do this.”

Lending a hand

Area Boy Scout George Herde, 17, decided he wanted to help out.

Herde, who belongs to Troop 70 in New Canaan, is going to restore part of the old trail that comes in from Wellesley Drive for his Eagle Scout project. Herde will be working with family, friends and volunteers to create a direct route and block off erosion and weathering of the existing trail. Herde’s project was recently approved, and he plans to have it finished by the June 21 deadline.

“The goal is to increase awareness about the Land Trust and this property,” Herder told the Advertiser. “This trail is actually really beautiful.”

Herde said he decided to take on the project after the Land Trust approached one of his Scout leaders. Plus, he loves to hike.

“The Land Trust has been a vital part of keeping green areas green in this town,” Herde said. “They are changing their perspectives and trying to open up trails and more public use for properties. This is part of getting this property back and making it available for public use.”

Herde believes it will take him and his crew about six to seven weeks, working a couple hours a day, multiple days a week, to complete the project.

A revamped image

Earlier this year, the Land Trust changed leadership after nearly three decades. Art Potts, who served as president for the past 28 years, stepped down from his post in January and handed over the reigns to Schipper. Members also updated the organization’s image with a new logo and are trying to spread the word about some of the work they’re doing and properties that are opening.

The Land Trust was founded by Jack Gunther in 1967. It holds around 311 acres of land — 260 acres in perpetuity in a natural state for the benefit of all New Canaan residents to wander through the woods, open pastures and trails, as well as 51 acres of conservation easements that are still owned by private individuals.

According to the organization, “Calculations show that the average New Canaan family lives within 1,000 yards of a Land Trust property, and 500 homes directly abut or are located across from Land Trust sanctuaries.”

While walking through the Symington Sanctuary, as Schipper removed large sticks and pieces of brush off the trails, he said the property will be open for anyone to enjoy. And he hopes, as it is made available, there will be a potential for additional entrances off Greenley and West Roads to increase accessibility. For now, he is focused on the June 21 opening.

At this point, parking along Wellesley Road is allowed for those wanting to walk the property.